"What is success?" asked Elder James E. Faust of the Council of the Twelve in his April 1982 general conference address. "Is it money? Is it achievement? Is it fame? Is it position? Is it dominion? The prophet Micah defined success as follows:

" `He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?' " (Micah 6:8.)Elder Faust said, "The Lord appeared to the great Solomon in a dream and said, `Ask what I shall give thee.' (1 Kings 3:5.) Solomon replied, `Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad.' (1 Kings 3:9.)

"The Lord was pleased because Solomon had not asked for success as the world defines it," noted Elder Faust.

In his October 1982 general conference address, Elder Derek A. Cuthbert of the Seventy spoke of the need to acquire wisdom, "that which Solomon desired so that he could make righteous judgments."

"Many of us are not wise, for we are blinded by the material world around us," said Elder Cuthbert. "Wisdom comes from a realization of true values and priorities. It is a spiritual quality, for it is founded on discernment and an understanding heart. Great is the wisdom of the prophets, and all who heed them are blessed.

"The Lord has counseled us to `seek not for riches but for wisdom.' (D&C 6:7.) In this general conference pearls of wisdom come from those who have spoken under the inspiration of the Spirit. We would all do well to study and apply the truths that have been declared."

Elder Cuthbert said knowledge by itself can be dangerous, and he who seeks to acquire knowledge must also be helped to obtain wisdom. "Wisdom is a sign of maturity," he said. "It is usually related to age and experience, but not necessarily so. When serving as a mission president in Scotland, I saw the Lord quicken the understanding of many young missionaries so that they developed beyond their years. Now, less than five years later, six have been called as bishops and two into stake presidencies in the British Isles, and all are giving fine leadership."

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(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION)

Articles on this page may be used in conjunction with the Gospel Doctrine course of study.

Information compiled by Gerry Avant

Sources: The House of the Lord, by Elder James E. Talmage; Story of the Old Testament, by J.W. Washburn; and April and October 1982 general conference reports.